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UMass Boston Claims LEC Opener Over Western Conn. State, 11-8

UMass Boston’s Calvin Lee recorded five points on four goals and one assist to lead the Beacons to an 11-8 win over Western Connecticut State University on Saturday. (PHOTO CREDIT: UMass Boston Athletics)

By Matt Noonan (@MattNoonan11)

Snow, rain, sleet and April Fools weather would not get in the way of the UMass Boston men’s lacrosse team, which secured an impressive Little East Conference (LEC) victory over Western Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon at James Cotter Field.

Calvin Lee registered five points on four goals and one assist, while Matt Murphy won 11 of 22 face-offs as the Beacons claimed an 11-8 victory, as well as their first win over the Colonials in Boston since April 22, 2006.

Neither team gained much momentum throughout the opening two stanzas, but UMass Boston managed to secure a 3-2 lead at the break, thanks to an unassisted second quarter tally from Sam Matton.

Lee doubled the Beacons’ advantage early in the third quarter, netting his first goal of the contest after receiving a feed from Adam Cariveau.

The Beacons’ two-goal advantage, however, would disappear minutes later as Western Connecticut’s Eric Caldwell netted four consecutive goals to provide the Colonials with their first lead of the contest.

Clay Arnold would answer for the Beacons, jumpstarting a three-goal run that provided the hosts with a 7-6 advantage after three quarters.

The Colonials would even the score at 7-7 early in the fourth when John Ward converted a feed from Christian Sparacino.

Ward’s strike, however, didn’t provide the Colonials as the Beacons countered with three-straight goals that helped the Blue and White push ahead for good.

Arnold, Matton and Josh Holmes concluded the contest with two goals apiece, while Alex Surette turned aside eight shots en route to bumping his mark between the pipes to 3-3.

In addition to Caldwell’s four tallies, Western Connecticut received four points from Ryan Reuling, who dished out a trio of assists, while netting his lone goal with 5:55 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Saturday’s win was UMass Boston’s fourth of the season, they are now 4-4 overall and 1-0 in league play, while the Colonials falls to 3-4 and 0-1.

Both teams return to action next week as UMass Boston visits Wheaton College on Tuesday, while Western Connecticut heads to New England College on Wednesday.